MTS and Affirmed Housing Complete SkyLINE Transit Oriented Affordable Housing at Rancho Bernardo Transit Station
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and Affirmed Housing have completed SkyLINE, a seven-story, mixed-use, transit-oriented affordable housing community at the Rancho Bernardo Transit Station. The project replaces an underutilized park-and-ride site with 100 affordable apartment homes and new amenities for transit riders, integrating housing and mobility on a single site.
Developed by Affirmed Housing on land leased from MTS, SkyLINE delivers one-, two- and three-bedroom homes for individuals and families earning between 30 and 55 percent of area median income, including one unit for an onsite property manager. Shared amenities include laundry rooms, a community room with a learning center, furnished outdoor space for resident gatherings and a tot-lot play area. The property is GreenPoint-rated and will offer onsite programs focused on health and wellness, financial literacy, career readiness, parenting, food preparation and community engagement. Compass for Affordable Housing will provide resident services.
SkyLINE sits adjacent to the Rancho Bernardo Transit Station, giving residents walkable access to high-frequency bus routes, including Rapid and Rapid Express service between downtown San Diego and North County, as well as nearby grocery stores, healthcare services, pharmacies and the Rancho Bernardo Library. The development includes roughly 14,000 square feet of commercial space to house Affirmed Housing corporate offices and generate rental revenue for MTS. Under a 99-year ground lease, MTS is activating underutilized land while preserving long-term transit operations.
Parking and financing were coordinated to support both residents and transit riders. The building’s parking structure includes 84 dedicated spaces for MTS patrons and 76 resident parking spaces. Bank of America provided construction, tax credit and solar credit financing for the project.
“Completing SkyLINE is a significant achievement for our region and demonstrates how housing and transit investments can work hand in hand to strengthen communities, said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember. This development delivers high-quality affordable homes in a high-opportunity area and reinforces the value of building vibrant, transit-oriented communities.”
“SkyLINE reflects our commitment to addressing the region s housing needs while strengthening access to public transportation, said Jimmy Silverwood, president of Affirmed Housing. By building affordable housing next to high-quality transit, we are creating opportunities for residents to connect more easily to jobs, schools and other essential services.”
“SkyLINE is the remarkable transformation of a former transit parking lot into 100 new sustainable affordable housing units for working families and represents the impact that public-private partnerships can make, said Pamela Gabriel, Bank of America San Diego market executive. Bank of America was proud to provide construction, tax credit and solar credit financing with our longtime partner Affirmed Housing to help make SkyLINE possible with city, county and state partners.”
SkyLINE exemplifies a coordinated approach to transit-oriented development that aligns housing supply, resident services and transit access. For owners, operators and public agencies focused on innovation in multifamily and transit-adjacent investments, the project demonstrates practical elements of partnership, financing and site activation that can be replicated in other markets.